By Chris Bavender
Sibling authors John and Hank Green will present a live version of their “Dear Hank and John” podcast March 10 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. All proceeds will be donated to support efforts to reduce child and maternal mortality in the African nation of Sierra Leone.
In October 2019, John unveiled a $25 million fundraising initiative for Partners in Health Sierra Leone for improved health care in the country, where 1 in 17 women die in childbirth.
“Ten percent of Sierra Leonean children do not live to see their 5th birthday, and 3,000 women in Sierra Leone will die in pregnancy or childbirth this year,” Green, who partnered with Hank for the initiative, said in a YouTube video.
“The Dear Hank and John, The Anthropocene Reviewed” show features the siblings answering questions, offering “dubious advice” and bringing all the week’s news from Mars and AFC Wimbledon as well as other secret surprises. Rumor has it there may even be a special appearance from a tauromorphic biped.
“Hank and I are on tour to raise money toward stronger health care systems in impoverished communities, especially where maternal and child mortality are highest,” John said. “We are really excited to perform at The Tarkington Theater so close to my hometown. As much as I enjoy traveling with Hank to perform around the world, my favorite shows are always at home.”
It will be the brothers’ third joint appearance locally in the last four years.
For the last 10 years, the bestselling authors have run the Foundation to Decrease World Suck, which has distributed more than $5 million to charities, nonprofits and educational projects.
John, an Indianapolis resident since 2007, and Hank, who lives in Missoula, Mont., run an educational media company, Complexly, that is home to more than a dozen educational YouTube channels, such as Crash Course, SciShow, PBS Eons and The Art Assignment. Their primary YouTube channel, Vlogbrothers, features them talking about a variety of topics, including what it’s like to live in “this peculiar era of history.”
The “Dear Hank and John” show is 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $40 and available at thecenterpresents.org/tickets-events/events/1920/rental-events/minotour-2020/.
Premium ticket holders will get a meet-and-greet with John and Hank after the show.
